Bell crank actuated pivoted sweep arm bender



BELL CRANK ACTUATED PIVOTED SWEEP ARM BENDER Filed May 13, 1957 M. L. BANK Dec. 9, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 HTTURNEY BELL CRANK ACTUATED PIVOTED SWEEP ARM BENDER Filed May 13, 1957 M. L. BANK Dec. 9, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MQRTON L. BFINKS ATTORNEY Dec. 9, 1958 M. L. BANK 2,863,490 BELL CRANK ACTUATED PIVOTED SWEEP ARM BENDER Filed May 15, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 jmmlllV a HHN H INVENTOR. MORTON L. BFINiKS HTTURNEIY ire Patented Dec. 9, 1958 BELL CRANK ACTUATED PIVOTED SWEEP ARM BENDER Morton L. Bank, Malverne, N. Y.

Application May 13, 1957, Serial No. 653,539

1 Claim. (Cl. 153-45) This invention relates to the art of bending pipes and conduits and, more particularly, to a portable electrically operated machine for bending metal pipes, rods and the like.

Broadly the invention consists of a wheeled frame having a support for the pipe to be shaped, positioned so that the supported pipe extends between a fixed shaping anvil and a movable shaping roller coacting with the anvil. The roller is carried around bodily in an arcuate path by a lever actuated by a motor driven gear. Automatic means is provided for opening the circuit through a reversible motor whereby the bending operation is stopped. Manually controlled mechanism is also provided for reversing the direction of movement of the pressing device so as to stop the bending operation.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a pipe bending machine with a grooved pipe supporting and pressing device coacting with a-grooved shaping anvil.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bending machine of this kind with automatic means for controlling the length of the stroke of the pipe pressing device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bending machine of this kind with manual means for controlling the length of the stroke of the pipe pressing device.

It is further proposed to provide a machine of this kind that is highly efficient in operation, easy to inspect and repair and characterized by fewness of parts.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Pig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the invention, parts being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof showing a pipe in operative position in dash lines.

Fig. 3 is a front view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 4, parts being broken away.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on theplane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing 7 a pipe between the anvil and roller in bent condition.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the machine embodying my invention includes a frame comprised of a pair of spaced channel bars 1%) and 11, a plate 12 positioned over the top of the bars at the front and a transverse bar 13 between the bars rearwardly of the front plate 12. These parts form the base of the machine. A pair of upright channel bars 14 and 15 extend upwardly from the bars and 11 and a pair of obliquely disposed angle bars 16, 16 extend between the top of the upright bars and the rear ends of bars 10 and 11 for bracing the frame. The bars 10, 11, 14, 15 and 16, 16 may be welded or otherwise secured together. A pair of closely spaced vertically disposed plates 17 and 18 are fastened to the front and rear sides of the upright bars 14 and 15 at the top thereof.

The frame is supported at the front on disc shaped wheels 19, 19 mounted on an axle 20 fastened across the front of the bars 10 and 11 and is supported at the rear on feet 21, 21 depending from the rear ends of said bars. The feet may have rubber caps to prevent marring of the supporting surface. Handle bars 23, 23 extend rearwardly of the frame and are curved and connected at their front ends to the bracing 'bars 16, 16. A transverse bar 24 braces the handle bars intermediate their ends.

The machine is adapted to be operated. by a motor 25 of the reversible type which is supported on and extends forwardly from the gear box 26 containing reduction gearing, which box is fastened to plate 12 by bolts 27. A large gear wheel 28 is fixed on the outer end of a shaft 29 journalled in a tubular bearing 30 extending horizontally across and secured to the upright bars 14 and 15. The periphery of the wheel is protected by a housing 31 which is open at its outer side and cut away at the forward portion of its top as indicated at 32. The gear wheel 23 is driven by a gear pinion 33 mounted on the end of the shaft 34 extending laterally from the gear box 26 and operatively connected to the drive shaft 35 of the motor 25, through the reduction gearing. The pinion is in continuous mesh with the teeth 36 of the gear wheel.

The gear wheel 28 carries a yoke which includes a straight lever arm 4%) which is pivoted at one end on a pin 1 carried on the periphery of the gear wheel just inwardly of its teeth 3-6. A lever bracket 42 having a bend or hook 43 at one end is secured at its hooked end to the outside of lever til by means of a shaft 44 and nut 45. The shaft extends through the other end of lever arm ill and through the hooked end 43. The other end of the lever bracket 42 is pivotally secured to a stationary anvil 46 by means of a pivot pin 47. A roller 43 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 44 within the hook 43.

The anvil is in the form of a substantially rectangular shaped plate 541) secured across the ends of plates 17 and 13 which are secured to the top of the upright bars 14 and 15' and which extend laterally of upright bar -14.

The anvil plate 56 extends forwardly of the frame and at its forward end is arcuately shaped with its end edge enlarged as indicated at 51 and formed with a groove 52 semicircular in cross section, along said enlarged end. The groove opens downwardly and is in vertical alignment with the roller 43 carried by lever bracket 42.

A supporting L-shaped shelf or platform 53 is adjustably supported by bolts 54 depending from the cross plates 17 and 18 and is fastened thereto by nuts 55.- The shelf is horizontally disposed and is adapted to be moved up and down along the bolts. The shelf is disposed rearwardly of the roller 48.

The electric switching mechanism for controlling the operation of the motor 25' is mounted in a casing secured to the upright bar 14 above the motor. The switching mechanism therein is connected to a source of electromotive force by means of a conductor 61 and plug 62 and is connected to the motor 25 by means of a cable conductor as. The switching mechanism further includes an insulating switch actuating member 64 protruding exteriorly of the casing 69. A U-shaped yoke member 65 surrounds the actuating member 64 and is pivotally fastened thereto by a pin 66. An upright rod 67 is secured at its bottom end to the bight portion of 3 the yoke 65 and at its upper end extends above the plates 17 and i8 and is preferably provided with an insulating finger piece 68 for moving the rod up and down. The rod is guided in its. movements by an eyeletted stud 69 supportedon the plate 17. Upon pulling upwardly on the rod 67, the circuit through the motor is closed and the gear wheel 28 is driven around.

Mechanism is provided for automatically breaking the circuit through the motor to stop the turning the gear Wheel 28. This mechanism includes a hell crank lever 70 pivotally mounted on a bolt su ported on the upright bar 14 adjacent the switch casing 63, and extending laterally of the upright bar. The short arm 72 of the bell crank lever is provided with an opening 73. through which the rod'ifl extends and the long arm 74 of the bell crank lever is positioned in the path of movement of a pin '75 carried by a spoke 76 of the gear wheel 28.

Mechanism is also provided for manually breaking the circuit through the motor 25 whereby the length of movement of the bracket lever 42 may be controlled. This mechanism includes a manually actuated switchi 5., mechanism indicated at 3th interposed in the circuit including the motor 25' and switching mechanism in cas ing 60. The switching mechanism 80 includes an actuating button 81. In order to use the switching mechanism iii the circuit through the motor 25 must first be closed by means of the rod 67. When the button iii is turned in one direction, the motor drives the gear Wheel 28 in one direction and when the button 3k is turned in the opposite direction, the gear wheel is driven in the opposite direction. For example, when the rod 67 is pulled upward, the motor drives the gear Wheel in a counterclockwise direction, carrying the lever therearound. If it is desired to stop the counterclockwise movement of the gear .wheel at any point in its movement along the arc, the switch button 81 is turned in the proper direction thereby reversing the direction of movement of the motor shaft and of the gear wheel and lever thereby pulling the bracket lever 4-2 away from the supported pipe and accordingly stopping the bending operation. In order to stop the movement of the machine the upright rod 67 must be pulled upwardly to break the circuit through the motor.

In operation, a straight length of pipe or bar P as shown in dash lines in Fig. 2 is placed on the supporting shelf 53 and is slid forwardly through the space between the roller'48 and enlarged grooved end 51 of the anvil 46. When thus positioned, the pipe will rest on the shelf 53 and turning of the nuts 55 on the bolts 54 will clamp the pipe between the shelf and enlarged grooved end Sll of the anvil 46. The rod 67 is pulled upwardly actuating the switching mechanism in casing and closing the circuit through the motor The gear wheel 28 is driven around carrying the lever 40 with it. The lever pushes the hooked lever bracket 42 in the direction of the turning of the gear wheel 28 for a pre determined distance, for example ninety degrees, carrying upwardly the roller 48 which rides along the pipe and presses it ahead, bending it against the anvil 46 thereby forcing the pressed end of the pipe into an angular relationship with respect to the rest of the pipe, for example, into an angular relationship of ninety degrees. At the end of said predetermined distance, the lever 4i pulls the lever bracket 42 in the opposite direction thus carrying the roller 48 away from the pipe and ending the bending operation. The gear .wheel 28 continues to turn until the pin on wheel 28 engages the long arm 74 of the bell crank lever thereby tilting said lever and forcing the short arm 72 thereof against a compression spring 84 encircling the lower end of upright rod 67 and impinging against the bight portion of the yoke 65, whereby said spring forces the yoke and rod 67 downwardly thereby moving the actuating member 64 to circuit opening position and stopping movement of the motor and gear wheel.

The bending operation may be stopped manually at any point when the desired curvature has been obtained. This is done by moving the switch actuating member 81 of the switching mechanism in the desired direction to reverse the direction of movement of the drive shaft of the motor. This causes the lever id to pull the bracket lever 42 with its roller 43 away from the pipe. in order to stop the movement of the gear wheel 23, however, the upright rod 67 must be pushed downwa'rdly to break the circuit through the motor.

The roller 48 may be readily replaced by rollers of various sizes.

if desired, the machine may be enclosed in a suitable cover to conceal all of the moving parts. The machine is easy to manipulate and move as it is easily tilted upon the wheels 19 by means of the handle bars 23, and can be rolled to whatever location needed for operation.

The machine is simple and rugged in construction and is arranged for the utmost efficiency in operation with a minimum exercise of manual effort.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patcut is: p

A pipe bending machine comprising a generally rectangular base frame, a reversible motor mounted on one end of the frame, upright bars disposed perpendicularly to the base frame, plates across the top of the bars, an anvil mounted on the plates, said anvil having one end enlarged and having a curved groove therein, a spoked gear wheel supported by the upright bars, a lever pivotaliy supported at one end on the gear wheel near the pe riphery thereof, a lever bracket pivotally secured at one end of said lever, said lever bracket having a hooked end, a shaft carried by said hooked end, a roller rotatably mounted on said shaft in the plane of the curved groove, said bracket having its other end pivotally mounted on said anvil, an L-shaped platform supported on the plates below and in register with the groove and roller, and switching means for automatically breaking the circuit through the motor to stop the turning of the gear wheel including a switch device on one of said upright bars, device having a projecting switch actuating member, a gen-- erally L-shaped bell crank lever pivotally mounted on said upright bar, one arm of the bell crank lever having an opening therein, an upright rod slidably mounted in the opening in said arm and connected at its bottom end to said switch actuating member, and a spring sleeved around said rod between the short arm of the lever and the switch actuating member, the other arm. of the bell crank lever extending in the path of movement of a pin carried by a spoke of the gear wheel for tilting said lever to actuate the rod to open the switch after the pipe is bent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 439,809 Bowen Nov. 4, 1890 992,807 Rulf May 23, 1911 2,620,848 De Paoli Dec, 9, 1952 2,656,872 Mann Oct. 27, 1953 2,784,762 Carlson Mar. 12, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 558,203 Great Britain Dec. 24, 1943 

